Boo!

So this is what I have been looking at lately... a whole bunch of spooky little eyes looking back at me! This is a pile of about 150 assorted Spookyhead charms that I made for an order. The buyer is getting ready early for the halloween season (ooh my favorite time of year!) These charms are all handmade, without molds. Each starts as a ball of clay, and more clay is added and lines and marks pressed into the clay to make the faces. So each one is just a tiny bit different from each other, even if they are the same design. While this is time consuming and requires concentration and skill, I think it is one of my favorite ways to make beads. I like the simplicity of using just the clay and a few very simple tools to create an endless variety of designs. Its my favorite kind of production.

I was very excited yesterday to ship these charms all out to the customer (well, all that I have... I still need to make about 80 more) but I was short ONE black robot! It was frustrating that I miscounted! So I spent the day glazing not only the one robot, but about 80 more beads to fill the rest of the kiln. Took me quite a while and changed my plans, but it had to get done eventually. Sometimes I wake up, form the day's work plan, and some little twist like that makes me have to scrap the plan for a new one. I have become accustomed to having to be flexible like that with work, but once and a while it is frustrating!

So the plan today is to get these shipped, do some clay work, walk the Zo, and pick up some veggie sausages for the planning party for Construct tonight. That's the plan right now at least... only time will tell if it has to change! *laugh*

Friendship Lock and Key

Here are two more of the new resin collage pendants. I really love these. They are made from oval blanks from Vintaj that I domed, one with a key and one with a lock. Both have a paper leaf behind the brass charm, and they are filled in with clear resin. I kind of like the idea of a pair of lovers or two friends wearing these necklaces, sort of like those best friend charms, but a little more subtle and grown up.
So I have been working on my big order still, and the end is sort of in sight, finally. AND I wrote and sent off two projects for a super secret project that I needed to finish by the end of the month. I have been swamped with deadline after deadline lately. It's not bad, it just gets a little tiring when it is all at once. I was glad to have the resin playtime, but when I get in production mode and need to work, but am wanting to play more, I tend to get myself into a little bit of shopping trouble. So I have an order from Rings and Things and ArtBeads on the way (and already received my FusionBeads and Vintaj orders, hehe), as well as a really cool find from a rubber stamp store that I will blog about when I get the shipment. When I get a day or two to play... look out! I will have the supplies at hand and the ideas are bursting out, so I will have a bunch of new stuff to share! For now, though, I have to hold on and finish these loose ends...

Both pendants are available in the Earthenwood Etsy shop

Circles and Extra Links

So I spent yesterday driving out to the Silverleaf Renaissance Festival near Battle Creek. I had never been there, and while it was much smaller than the one closer to me in Holly, it was very fun and there were great vendors and people working the show. Alex dressed in costume as a Scottish Ninja, in part of a joke with his buddies that we met there, who tease him about his ability to disappear and appear, ninja-style. The costume was pretty much all black like a ninja with a big sword, and with a kilt and a puffy renaissance shirt for that Scottish history, with a little bit of tartan for the sash and a sporran. It was very clever! I cheesed out and didn't wear any costume... i went for comfort instead. It was much fun!
Afterwards we met with some of his friends and then went to Lansing for a birthday party for The (other) Alex. It was a great day, and I was exhausted by the time I got home, but was super excited to find that Jeremy had finished all the random projects in the kitchen like the floor, the painting, and he even assembled the new countertop! It looks so good!
I have to catch up on a little bit of work today, but I leave you with a few more pictures of the new resin pendants, which I have listed in the Etsy shop. And now, this week's Extra Extra links:

A Bead A Day
The new Swarovski Air Blue crystals are perfect for summertime jewelry making. Lisa has used them to represent a "happy day" in this ring and necklace set.

About.com Jewelry Making
Rock clubs rock, literally, when you are looking for inexpensive, local jewelry making classes.

Art Bead Scene
Tired of your liver of sulfur going bad? Check out this - Patina Gel!

Beading Arts
The second part of Cyndi's tutorial on using CopprClay to create a necklace.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi introduces a vintage walnut to rhinestones.

Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva
Cindy takes on heavy metal in the studio. No, you won't need to cover your ears - just your hands!

Jean Campbell
Jean visited Chicago and discovered a new beading technique using pleather and Conso

Katie's Beading Blog
Take a sneak peek at Katie's newest beading book!

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei makes a fun Owl swap with a blog friend.

Snap out of it , Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean is wowed by Denise Peck's recent earring book, 101 Step by Step Wire Earrings! Get it and make some for YOURSELF!

Strands of Beads
Melissa curls up with a few good books from Rings & Things

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
After cleaning the studio, Andrew finds (and finishes) a long-lost PMC Floral Link Bracelet.

Fairy Ring and Leafy Mayfly Resin Collage Necklaces

Here are a couple more pictures of the brass and resin pendants I made last weekend during my playtime. I am starting to list them over in the Earthenwood Etsy shop. I have made them all into pendants on faux leather cords, and I think they are very stylish and wearable. I do think I will need to take some new pictures, perhaps under sunlight instead of my light set-up that I am using now. I just haven't had time or sun to do so.
I have ordered more brass blanks from Vintaj and some Ice Resin, and am excited to get them so I can play more at home, with more of my stuff. I have started collecting bits and pieces to use with them... things I have been holding onto for a long time that can now find a home. It is refreshing to work on these sorts of things that cannot be easily reproduced. I do enjoy production work, but the unique creative playtime is much needed lately.
I am working diligently to finish a bunch of stuff, all with a deadline at the beginning of next month. I am coming along well with it, its just slow and tedious work. I also have been watching as my kitchen is getting closer and closer to a finished state, because of my awesome brother/roomie! I have a full day of work to do tomorrow, and then a fun weekend planned ahead, so I will wish you a great weekend, and will talk to you next week! I hope to continue to list more of the new Resin Collage necklaces to Etsy tomorrow, so keep checking back there for new stuff!

Extra Extra and Resin Experiments

I had a great time over the last few days! I went to South Haven to see Heather of Humblebeads and Rosanne of Fab Fibers. I had hoped to spend some time squishing my toes in the sand on the beach, and finally wear my new bathing suit, but it was oddly cold on Friday! It felt like autumn, actually. So we stayed in, and spent the whole day playing with bits of metal and paper and little odd bits of stuff, collaging them into pendants. At the end of the play session, we filled them with clear Ice Resin. It was fun to play with new things, and above is a sneak peek of some of the pendants I made. There are a lot more, and I am working on photographing them. Whew! Really reflective stuff... hard to get good pics of them. They are really fun, though... I can't wait to do more. I returned from my trip, and spent the day at home cleaning up the house, which I feel like I haven't spent a lot of time in lately, and nursing a bellyache. I am feeling better now, but am going to turn in early tonight, hoping to get some rest. Before I go, here are this week's Extra links!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Busier than a bee, Andrew shares fifteen new jewelry designs.

Strands of Beads
Melissa shows off a new variation of her lunar phases toggle

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean discusses finishing up the challenge "Use the Muse II" which was thought up by Scarlett Lanson, Rainbows of Light.com and Artbeads.com. She enjoyed it very much, particularly because it made her think!

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei is giving away a necklace and a copy of Creative Jewelry!

Drawing Dilemma
Jean asks her friends about what drawing programs they use for beading illustrations

Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva Gets Loopy
Check out Cindy's new project in the summer edition of Step by Step Wire!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Rub-ons and leather - a cool combination for this cuff sample.

Beading Arts
Cyndi shows you the steps to making a simple but sparkling necklace from CopprClay!

Barbe Saint John
Barbe reviews Simply Gemstones book

Art Bead Scene
ABS Editor Heather is on the road. Check out her quick project!

About.com Jewelry Making
How has your web store experience been? Are there too many 3rd partry sites to sell or buy jewelry these days? Take the poll as a sell or buyer.

A Bead A Day
Can a piece of jewelry create a feeling of calm and happiness? Check out Lisa's starry bracelet made with "new jade" stones.

Major Detours

Here is one more picture from the taping of Beads, Baubles and Jewels. I look pretty calm here, considering that I am about ready to get filmed. The host, Katina, was really great and put me at ease, so it went pretty easily. I just talked to her about stuff I love!
Last night was pretty crazy! I was about a half hour away from home, at a meeting/party for Construct. Just as Alex and I were getting ready to leave, my friends told us about a tanker explosion VERY near my home. My friends can be practical jokers, so I didn't believe them right away, but as we were driving back, it became clear that it was all over the news radio and people were calling me about it. We decided to try to get to my house, taking the long way around. We were able to get there without too much of a problem, and saw the black smoke billowing as we got closer to my street. Scary stuff! We got to the house, grabbed some stuff and the Zoey dog, and I headed to my parents house and Alex headed home. Leaving was more of a challenge, recalculating around the major freeway intersection, but we both made it home. Traffic is going to be a mess around my house for quite a while, as the whole bridge collapsed, and trying to get anywhere from home will be pretty tricky, so I am glad to keep the Zo here at my parents house, and I am going to take off out of town on a little trip.
I am going to head back home to pack up some stuff, and then drive on out to the west side of the state to meet with Heather of Humblebeads and her family! I took this trip last year and had a blast! There will be beach, beads, and fun! I just wanted to check in and let you all know that I am ok, and will be offline for the next few days.

Beads, Baubles, and Jewels...Lights, Camera, Action!

Well, almost a week has passed since I set out to Cleveland for the Beads, Baubles, and Jewels taping. Since then I have had a lovely few days off, and then a couple of days back in the studio working hard, while getting ready to take another couple of days off. It has been quite a whirlwind! I wish I had blogged right when I got back and my thoughts were fresh, so it feels a little strange to blog about it all now. So to sum it up, I was terribly nervous, but after meeting the staff of the show and the other great artists who were also filming, I calmed down and got more comfortable, I gave it my biggest and bestest effort, and I ended up having a great time! I am so excited to see how my segment turned out, but it will take a few months before the tape gets done and longer still before the show airs.

Kerry from Kab's Creative Concepts wrote a big post about the day, and she took the pictures I am using in today's post (thanks, Kerry!) Also, Jean Campbell and Marcia DeCoster wrote great posts about their filming experiences. Above, a picture of all my stuff on a tray in the green room, getting ready to go. I was really happy with the project I picked to show, a quick but interesting Steampunk pendant made with a brass filigree bead that unfolds to create a bezel for one of my porcelain gear discs. Its a pretty dramatic thing to show, so that's fun! I also talked a little bit about steampunk. It was very casual and conversational... not rehearsed and scripted... so I hope I sound reasonably coherent when I see it on tape. I think my ideas and creativity burst through my nerves and I got my thoughts across clearly.

Above, a picture of the television screen in the green room showing the feed of me and the host, Katina, in the middle of taping my segment. It was SO weird to see myself on TV, and all made up! The make-up artist did an amazing job, especially since my eyelids were all pink and itchy from my allergies. We sat down together with the producer, and I tried to ignore the big cameras and just chatted with Katina about Steampunk and my beads. It went so quickly! Did I mention that the staff was awesome, and made us all feel at home? It was a great experience and I am so glad that I did it! Stay tuned, I will certainly keep you all informed when I have updates on show times!

Weekend Vacation and Extra Extra Linkage

Wow, what a week that was! I have much to tell about my experience with Beads, Baubles, and Jewels... but I was whisked away for a delightful weekend vacation in Petoskey and Charlevoix, Michigan, so I haven't have time to blog about about it yet.

I spent the weekend wandering around, window shopping, relaxing, enjoying a beautiful wedding in a gorgeous castle, meeting great people, and spending time with someone very special to me. Here are a few snapshots of my weekend, and after that... this week's Extra links!

A Bead A Day
Lisa’s “Swarovski Summer Picnic” project is progressing. The only thing missing are the crystally butterflies!!

About.com Jewelry Making
School's out for summer, but is it really? Nope, not when you can take one of these free jewelry making e-courses.

Art Bead Scene
Art Bead Scene's monthly challenge painting for July is the Lascaux Cave Paintings. Get your stash of beads out in ivory, red and brown to match the color palette of these ancient drawings.

Beading Arts
Wonderful wonderful wonderful new CopprClay! Cyndi is so excited about this new material that she can't stop playing with it!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi attempts to create a necklace after a resin pouring disaster.

Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva
Cindy shows off some new chain and realizes one should never shop for jeans on her lunch hour.

Humblebeads
Check out the 2009 Bead Cruise design contest winners!

Jean Campbell
Jean Campbell finished off her new LeTemps Necklace design which marries bling to grunge. Hurray!

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei has busted out of the studio and into the Museum of Art for a trunk show.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean reviews a different, colorful, and inspiring book called Glass, by Marlene Blessing and Jamie Hogsett

Strands of Beads
Melissa talks about where to find reliable information on copyrights - the U.S. Copyright Office, of course!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Challenging himself with a smaller scale, Andrew tackles doll jewelry. Check out five new designs with dolls in mind!

Beads, Baubles, and Jewels...Getting in Gear

Wheee! *flailing around* I am very nervously busy today, and will be for the next couple of days! I am getting my things together for my big TV debut! I am driving to Cleveland tomorrow, to tape for the PBS show Beads, Baubles, and Jewels on Thursday! Its very exciting, but I am also a little bit scared, as I have never done anything quite like this. But you don't grow unless you take risks and do things to push yourself, right?

My plan is to talk a little bit about steampunk, and its influence in fashion and in jewelry, and then demo a pendant made with Vintaj brass and a steampunk inspired ceramic stone, like the one above. I am feeling a bit unprepared, even though I have been thinking about it and have had it going through my head constantly for a couple of weeks now, since I met the producer at the Bead & Button Show. I think I am going to spend the rest of the day getting my notes and samples prepared, and getting myself ready as well... maybe a little spa treatment is a good idea?

I won't have much time once I get home to blog on Thursday, after the taping. I will probably run and do some shipping and errands, but then I am being whisked away early on Friday up to the North, for a wedding and a little weekend vacation. I will need it after the next few days. I will check in when I can, but until then, I hope you wish for me to break a leg (or whatever you tell someone who is going on tv...*giggle*) Whee!

Extra Extra

Happy Fourth of July! I am heading out to a BBQ with my friends in a few minutes, but I have just enough time to post the Extra Extra links for this week. I have been balancing hard work with fun really well this week... having a couple of birthday celebrations for my brother's birthday while working on my big order and preparing for a very exciting opportunity coming up this coming week (OMG wait til I tell you all about THIS!) Today is more of the same... beadmaking and BBQ. Whee!

A Bead A Day
Do you love Swarovski Crystals? Inspired by talented jewelry designer, Lillian Chen, Lisa creates a Swarovski “sculpture” ring.

About.com Jewelry Making
Heard about copper clay or coppr clay? Find out more about this great new metal clay product and check out some new metal clay projects too.

Art Bead Scene
Art Bead Scene gets creative with the "Best of ABS."

Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts
Sometimes you need to have a jewelry makeover

Beading Arts
Cyndi reports on her experiences with firing and finishing CopprClay pieces. This stuff rocks!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi tries Ice Resin and upcycles a greeting card into a necklace.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Cindy learns to make murrini and deals with mud.

Humblebeads
Bead & Button stash and Heather's inspired creations

Jean Campbell
Jean gives a sneak peek of her next Beadwork magazine piece

Katie's Beading Blog
Check out Katie's wire-wrapped dragonfly!

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Instead of continuing on with the tried and true techniques of jewelry design, Lorelei is finally ready to take the leap and try something new.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean gets her cool stash from Use the Muse II, and muses about it

Strands of Beads
Melissa wants to know what outrageous materials are in your beading stash?

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Stop by and say hello to Andrew in Charlotte, NC this weekend. Check out his new designs and some delicious new metal clay coins!

Art Beads Artistry: Clockwork Sparkle Necklace

The other day, I posted about a bracelet I made with some Swarovski crystal beads that I got from from ArtBeads.com. This is a necklace I made on the same day, with the two leftover Swarovski Crystal Rings in Light Smoked Topaz. I really like the way the color of the crystals work with the Rusty Engine glaze on my Toolbox Treasures, combined with the natural brass. I am such a sucker for any shade of brown! I also love the deco/nouveau style of the Vintaj components and how they remind me of clock hands and parts for some reason. The long lariat design of the necklace seems to work well with the brass and crystal for an art nouveau sort of style. This was a very simple project to make: just a few jump rings and head pin twists. I'm thinking I will submit this one as a project to a magazine somewhere, I have just been really lacking the time to send in submissions. Ah well, time to get ready for a sushi party tonight! Happy Birthday to my brother, Jeremy!